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I’ve never really
contemplated it in this way: The Spirit, in Christ, that drove Him to the cross
(for our salvation) is the same
Spirit that God put into each of us believers.
We really can "be like Jesus".
So we could be wiser,
holier and more powerful than our neighbor? Of course not. Wisdom, holiness and
power may be by-products but they aren’t the point. The defining Spirit of
Christ is none of these. The defining Spirit of Christ is ἀγάπη…“intentional
love”.
The “intention” being the redemption
of lost souls.
This is the Spirit
God put in us when we believed. Why would he do that? So we will love
others into the Kingdom of God like Christ did.
Don’t misunderstand me.
I don’t suggest we can “save” people.
Only the blood of Christ can do that. I am suggesting the ἀγάπη that God put in us
can drive people to Christ like Jesus, Himself, was driven to the cross.
I don’t often feel that
kind of spiritual presence…which can be disquieting. But, John’s lofty words aren’t intended to
create apprehension. On the contrary,
"we
love, because He first loved us” is so certain it’s actually
a tautology…intended to stimulate pursuit of a more “perfect” ἀγάπη.
Here is the operative
question for each of us. Has my ἀγάπη been the catalyst that
built faith into others?
Am I letting God's Spirit drive me to that end?
Live
boldly out there today…
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